Bears to look at free-agent DT Lewis

May 06, 2012|By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter

(Tribune illustration)

The Chicago Bears will gear up for rookie minicamp next weekend, but first will inspect at least one veteran option: According to an NFL source, the Bears will bring in defensive tackle Trey Lewis for a workout in the next few days.

Lewis has familiarity with most of the people involved. The Bears were one of the teams to scout him most heavily when he came out of Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., in 2007. The Atlanta Falcons selected Lewis in the sixth round when Phil Emery served as their director of college scouting.

Lewis, 6-foot-3, 312 pounds, has not played in an NFL game since the 2010 season opener. He was inactive for the remainder of that season. The Falcons made him one of their final cuts last September and he was out of the league during the 2011 season.

Lewis twice has been sidelined with a torn ACL, an injury he suffered in Week 11 of 2007 after he had worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie in the first month of the season. Lewis then tore the ACL again while recovering. He appeared in 18 games for the Falcons, making seven starts. He turns 27 later this month.

Emery said after the draft the team could be in the market for a defensive tackle in free agency. The depth chart indicates a need. Last week, the Bears poked around on Gary Gibson before the defensive tackle signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.